Jose Altuve's two home runs and a quality start by Cristian Javier led the Houston Astros to a series win over the Texas Rangers this weekend.
Texas won the first game of the series, 8-4. But Houston responded with convincing wins on Saturday, 9-2, and 8-5 on Sunday.
The series clincher was not as close as the final score indicates. Houston led 8-3 through seven innings, before a three-run homer in the ninth by Marcus Semien prompted Astros manager Joe Espada to bring in closer Josh Hader to secure the victory.
Altuve homered in his first two at-bats of the game against Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi. In the fourth inning, Evan Carter hit a solo shot off Javier, who gave up two earned runs in seven innings of work.
Javier allowed five hits, two walks and struck out five. He threw 89 pitches.
The Astros (6-11) also scored on doubles by Victor Caratini, Mauricio Dubon and Chas McCormick. Caratini had an RBI-groundout in the eighth inning for another insurance run.
Next up for the Astros are the NL East leading Atlanta Braves (9-5). Spencer Arrighetti will start for Houston, with Darius Vines taking the mound for Atlanta.
This will be Arrighetti's second major-league start. In his debut last Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, Arrighetti gave up seven runs on seven hits and three walks in three innings.
